Game-scoring device



5 Sheets-Sheet l .Hrrafr/vers June 24, 1930. w. s. SHAW VAN GAME scoRING DEvIcE v Filed April 24, 1929 l Pr wmv-:zi I. at :In 9.. maxx WN s WU s M* oN O E m V w im mi Am June 24, 1930. w. s. SHAW VAN GAME SCORING DEVICE Filed April 24, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 NNN@ am. m ya w NM H um ,m m5 n am fw WM m,

WITNESS June 24, 1930.

W. s. SHAW VAN GAME SCORING DEVICE v 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 24, 1929 'Patentes use 24, 193e WALTER S. SHAW VAN, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA y GAME-SUORNG DEVICE 'Application mea April 24,

My inventionA relates to game scoring dewiee kand one of my main objects is to provide means for visualizing on a miniature football field or gridiron the progress of the play ofa football game as it is reported by telegraph, telephone,.or radio announceinent. The broadcasting of the plays in a football game so that those not in attendance may be fully and immediately informed thereof has become a feature of the football season and by my device not only may the movement of the football be accurately depicted on a smaller scale and thus enable the yonlookers to visualize the exact status of the game asit proceeds, but I have also provided means whereby the scoring, the number of the down, the number of the quarter period being played, the numberof minutes remaining to be played andthe distance which the ball must be advanced by the team in possession may be duly recorded, all of which contribute greatly to the pleasure and information "of the observers.

Another object of myl invention is to provide means whereby the tapes or iieXible bands upon which are imprinted or otherwise displayed spaced numerals for indicating scores and yardage, are kept taut and movable either backwardly or forwardly, the tapes or bands being necessarily of considerable length and, in my device, carried by two spaced reels or spools. Y

Other objects and features will appear in the following description, accompanying drawings, and annexed claims.

My device is made of a convenient size so as to be portable and to be conveniently placed on a household table', and preferably the frame within which the several parts are contained is Vmade of wood or other like material.

' ln the drawings, in which like numerals designate like parts in the several figures, Fig. lis a top p.an view of one embodiment of my device; Fig. 2 is a reverse bottom plan view with the bottom member partly broken away; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sec-- tion on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section on the line 4 4 of Fig.

1929. Serial No. 357,869.

1,' Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section onr the line 5-5 of ig. `il; Fig.A 6 is a detailed plan view of the tape winding unit; Fig. 7 is a fra mentary horizontal section on the line 7 of Fig. 3; Fig. 8 is a transverse section on the line 8-8 of Fig. l7 Fig. 9 is a fragmentary transverse section on the line 9--9 of Fig. 1 and Fig. 10 is a detail view ofV a iiag post and flag holder which may be used with my device. I

The frame 1, which preferably is rectangular and made of wood, comprises a top section 2, a bottom section 3, end panels 4, a rear panel 5 and a front panel 6, the several frame members beingsecured together by screws 7. Extending longitudinally within the frame 1, between the end panels 4 and spaced fromthe frontV panel 6, is the support member 8 and extending from the rear panel 5 to the support 8 are cross pieces 9 and 10 vwhich are provided, respectively, with openings 9 and 10 for the purpose hereinafter described. y

The top section 2 is recessed at 11 vto prof vide a seat between the' panels 4, 5 and 6 for the edge of the chart 12 upon which is depicted the usual football field or gridiron 13. The chart'12 may be formed from card board or any other suitable material. The bottom section 3 is recessed at 14 to provide a seat betweenV the panels 4, 5 and 6 for the edge of the base 15 which may also be formed from cardboard or other suitable material. The chart 12 is provided with a slot 16 longitudinally and centrally disposed therein within which a miniature football 17 is adapted to be moved longitudinally,

beingv carried by the cord 18 which tracks in pulleys 19-20 and passes through the openings 9 rand 10 in cross pieces 9 and 10, pulley 19 being rotated by the shaft 21 to which it is locked by the screw 22, the shaft ybeing rotated by the turning of the hand knob 23 secured to the shaft by the set screw 24. A suitable bracket 2,5` provides a bear' ing yfor the inner end of shaft 21, the outer end of which is journaled in the p anel 6, support for the shaft intermediateits end being provided by the member 8 and the bracket 26, a pulley'27 being mounted von- Athe shaft the shaft between the bracket 26 and the member 8. A coiled spring 28 on the shaft 2l engaging the shai't collar 29 retains the shaft in operative position.

The pulley 2O is loosely carried by the shaft 30, the inner end of which 1s sup-y ported in the bracket 3l, its outer end being journaled in the panel 6 and provided with a hand knob 32 secured thereto by set screw 33. Intermediate its ends the shaft 30 is journaled in the support member`8 adjacent to which the pulley 34 is mounted on shaft 30, being positioned by the set screw 35. A coiled spring 36 on the shaft 30 engaging the collar 37 retains the shaft in operative assembly. Y

Secured to the cord 38 which passes through the openings 9 and 10y in cross pieces 9 and l0 and tracks in the pulleys 27 and 34 is a distance marker 39V which represents a distance of ten yards, the requiredyardage to be gained by the team in possession of the ball in four doivns under the present rules of the game. The spaced standards 40 of the marker 39 project upwardly through the slot 41 provided in the chart l2, slot 4l extending substantially the length of the gridiron 13, the marker 39 Vbeing movable therein by the rcord 38 as the latter travels over pulleys 27 and 34, pulley 34 being the driving pulley and rotated by 30 which is turned by the hand knob 32. It Will novv be seen'that the football 17 may be moved in accordance vvith the plays of the game along the gridiron so that the operator of my device and onlookers may have a correct visualization of the position of the football relative to its distance from the goal lines at all times during the progress of the game and by the movement of the distance marker the necessary yardage or the Vgaining of a first dovvn Will be visualized for the observers.

In my device I have also provided means for indicating the number of the down and the quarter period being played, these com-l prising spools 42 and 43 of similar construction having the numerals 1, 2, 3, and 4 displayed thereon circumferentially which, as the spools are rotated, are consecutively brought into registration With openings 44 and 45, respectively, provided in the chart Vl2 through Which they may be seen by' the observers. The spools 42 and 43 are secured to'aXles 46 and 47, respectively,the inner ends oi which are journaled in the support member 8 and the outer ends in the front panel 6, being rotatable by the hand knobs 48 and 49 respectively.Y

I n order that the number of minutes remaining to be played in any quarter period may be known to the observers I have provided an endless tape 50 upon Which are displayed ythe numerals l to l5 inclusive, fifteen minutes'being the maximum length the front panel 6 and is adapted to be rotated by the hand knob 55. 'Ihe proper numeral to indicate the number of minutes remaining to be played may be brought into registration with the' opening 56 by moving the tape 50 over the spools 5l and 52.

The arrovv 57 is pivotally mounted on the chart and may be manually turned so that it will point towards the goal line of the team having possession of theball.

he tapes bearing the numbers for indiv r eating the scores of the contesting teams and also' for indicating the numbers of yards to be gained are necessarily of extended length to contain the multiplicity of required numbers, the numbers being desirably of such size that they may be easily read, and I have provided an improved means whereby the tapes may be kept taut and kinking or distortion thereof prevented as they are moved forwardly and backivardly so as to register theV proper number, as the play progresses, with the proper opening in the face of the chart to make it visible to the operator.v

My improved means, a detailed plan` View of which is shown in Fig. 6 and three embodiments, A, B and `C, of 'which are preferably usedin my game scoring device to indicate the respective scores of the contesting teams and the number of yards tok be gained, comprises two spools 58 and 59, to each of which one end of the tape 60 is secured by an Vadhesive or any other suitable means, more or less of the tape being Wound on each spool as the indicatednumber oi:p the numeral is changed. The inner ends of the `axles 6l and 62, respectively, of the spools 58 and 59 are journaled in the support 8 and their outer ends in the front panel 6, the outer end of. axle 6l of the driving spool 58 projecting slightly Without the panel 6 to enable a hand knob 63 to be secured thereto by set screw 64.

. The spools may be conveniently formed from Wood by a lathe and comprise annular flanges and 66 suitably spaced to form a guidevvay ior the retention therebetween of the tape 69. rlfhe outer ends of the spools are flanged and groovedto form sheaves 67 and 68 over which the belt 69 runs. The belt 69 is preferably a steel coil spring, its ends being disengageable, and the tension maintained by the belt is desirably such as to permit a minimum of lag in the driven sheave 68 as it is rotated. The driving sheave 67 is preferably oi greater diameter rotation of the spool than that of the driven'sheave 68 whereby the latter rotates more rapidly than the former.

Secured to the inner face of the sheave 68, in any suitable manner, as by pins, isv a ratchet wheel and within the outer end of the spool 59 is provided a recess 7l for the retention therein of-a spring lmetal band 72, one end of which is held Iwithin the saw cut 73, the other end being'bentto form a spring rpawl 74 with which a tooth of the ratchet wheel 70 engages as the latter is rotated in a counter-clockwisedirection by the belt 69, thereby causing the spool 59 to rotate in like direction and wind upon it the tape 60 as the latter unwinds from the spool 58. As'will be seen, the rotation by the operator of the knob 63 will cause the belt 69 to travel in the same direction as that; of the knob rotation, the spools 58 and 59 being likewise rota-ed `by the engagement of the belt 69 with the sheaves 67 and 68.

fitted to the axles 6l and 62 respectively. It will be further evident that when the spools are rotated inclockwise direction the pawl 74 is disengaged from the teeth of the ratchet and rotation of spool 59 is not affected'thereby except that the friction between the ratchet and thev pawl may retard somewhat the speed of rotation of the spool 59 and4 assist in maintaining desired tension on thetape'GO. f Y

To prevent too free rotation of the spool 59 and to assist in providingr desired ten'- sion upon the tape G0 to'keep it taut and free "from kinking or distortion, vcoil spring 75 is preferably mounted upon the outer end of spool 59, one end ''of the spring being secured in a suitable aperture in the bracket 77 and the other end bearing slidably lagainst the adjacent annular flange on the spool. The spring 7 5 surrounding the spool 59 lwill exert a frictional drag and braking action against and prevent too rapid thereby assisting in keeping desired tension upon the tape as it is moved in either direction.

When a larger number on the tape than that which is then visible is desired to be brought into registration with the adjacent observation opening, the driving spool 58` is rotated in clockwise direction which draws the tape from the drivenv'spool 59 and when a smaller number is td be registered the driving spool is rotated counterclockwise whereby the pawl and ratchet are brought into engagement by the action of the belt upon the sheaves and the driven spool is rotated counter-clockwise drawing the tape from the driving spool and winding it upon the driven spool. Inasmuch as the diameter of the driven sheave 68 is smaller than the diameter of jthe driving sheave "37, sheave 68 will rotate more rapidly than sheave?, resulting in spool 59 drawing the tape to itself faster than the tape is releasedfrom spoolin registrationfwith the observation open-k ings is effected. Exact control of the exposedv number is accomplished by rotation"v of the hand knob, the tape by reason of its being maintained desirably taut being sensitively responsive to the rotation of the knob in either direction. Another advantage of my tape winding device is that but one hand knob is employed to move the tape in either direction. Y f f A spacer disk 78 loosely fitting the axle 62 isprovided whereby upon' the withdrawal of the axle therefrom and from the 59, the latter may be conveniently disengaged from the ratchet.

In my device I have also provided goals 79 and 80 comprising standards and a cross bar, the standards being removably erected` in suitablelopenings in the chart l2.

To assist yin the better visualization ofthe play of the game I have provided flag poles 8l and 82 which may be removably positioned `in suitable openings in the chart l2, the poles having adjacent their top a spring clamp 83 into which maybe removably inserted miniature pennants or flags of the contesting teams, the pennants or flagsbeing readily interchangeable as the goals are changed during each qua-rter period.

l/Vhile I have herein described with con-v siderable particularity a preferred'embodispool lil() ment of my invention, I do not thereby de; p

sire ory intend to specifically limit myself to the precise details of construction and arrangement of parts to which I have referred as the same may be modified and varied from the forms shown in the drav'- ings and herein described without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as delined in the appended claims nor do I hereby intend to restrict the use of'my improved tape winding mechanism to the particular game scoring device herein described. v l

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to .protect by Letters Patent of the United States: i

l. A. device for visualizing the progress llt) movable within the second slot, and cooperating operating means for moving the football and the distance marker along the said slots having separate operating devices independently operable to move either the ball orV the distance marker. f

2. A device for visualizing the progress of the play of a football game, including a frame, a chart mounted within said frame,

a simulation of a -football field upon said chart, a slot extending longitudinally of said field, a miniature football movable within the slot, a second slot extending longitunally of said field, a distance marker movable within the second slot, and cooperating i pendently of each other.v

3. A device for visualizing Vthe progress of the play of a football game including a rame having a simulation of a football field, a slot extending longitudinally of the field, a miniature football movable within said slot, a second slot extendingv longitudinally of the said field, a distance marker movable within said second slot, cooperating means for moving the football and the distance marker having separate operating devices located at one side of the field and independently operable? to move either the football or the distance marker, spools rotatably supported within the frame at one side of the field, and numeral bearing tapes carried by the spools and indicating the scores, the yardage to be gained, the number of periods to be played, the number of downs, and the number of minutes remaining to be played, said spools being manually rotatable and the tapes cooperating with the football and distance marker for enabling the successive plays of the game to be reproduced visually.

4. A device for visualizing the progress of the plays of a football game, including a frame having a simulation of a football field, spaced driving and driven spools located at one side of the field, a tape adapted for indicating the scores, the yardage to be gained, the number of downs, the number of minutes remaining to be played, or the like, said tape having one end attached to the driving spool and the other end attached to the driven spool, sheaves connected to each spool, a belt tracking in said sheaves, a hand knob for rotating the driving spool, and means for governing the speed of rotation of the driven spool, whereby the tape between the spools is maintained taut.

5. A' device for visualizing the progress of the plays of ay football game, including a frame having a simulation of a football field, spaced driving and driven spools located at one side of the field, a tape adapted for indicating the scorees, the yardage to be gained, the number of downs, the number of minutes remaining to be played, or the like, said tape having one end attached to the driving spool and the other end attached to the driven spool, a sheave integral with the driving spool, a sheave connected with the driven spool, a pawl carried by the driven spool, a ratchet wheel carried by said last mentioned sheave adapted to engage the pawl to rotate the driven spool, a belt tracking in said sheaves, and a hand knob for rotating the driving spool and its sheave.

6. A device for visualizing the progress of the play of a football game, including a frame having a simulation of a football field, spaced driving and Vdriven spools located at one side of the field, a tape adapted for indicating the scores, the yardage to be gained, the number of downs, the number of minutes remaining to be played, or the like, said tape having one end attached to the driving spool and the other end attached to the driven spool, a sheave integral with the driving spool, a sheave connected With the driven spool, a pawl carried by the driven spool, a ratchet wheel carried by said last mentioned sheave adapted to engage the pawl to rotate the driven spool, a belt tracking in said sheaves, a hand knob for rotating the drivingrspool and its sheave, and means for governing the rotation of the driven spool, whereby the tape extending between the spools is maintained under tension.

7. A device for visualizing they progress of the play of a football game, including a frame having a simulation of a football field, spaced driving and driven spools located at one side of the field, a tape adapted for indicatingV the scores, ythe yardage to be gained, the number of downs, the num ber of minutes remaining to be played, or the like, said tape having one end attached to the driving spool and the other end attached to the driven spool, a sheave integral with the driving spool, a sheave connected with the driven spool, a pawl carried by the o driven spool, a ratchet wheel` carried by said last mentioned sheave adapted to engage the pawl to rotate the driven spool, a belt tracking in said sheaves, a hand knob for rotating the driving spool and its sheave, and a coil spring on the driven spool for assisting in retarding the speed of rotation thereof, whereby the tape between the spools is maintained under tension.

8. A device for visualizing the progress of the play of a football game including a frame having a simulation of a football field, driving and driven spools located at l one side of the eld, a tape having one end attached to the driving spool and the other end attached to the driven spoolr and having numerals for indicating scores, yardage to be gained, the number of downs, or the like, sheaves connected to each spool, a belt tracking in said sheaves, a hand knob for rotating the driving spool, and means for governing the speed of rotation of the driven spools, whereby the tape between the spools is maintained taut.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 23rd day of April, 1929.

WALTER S. SHAW VAN. 

